Turkey completes takeover of 13 Gülen-affiliated schools in Afghanistan

The transfers completed on Friday follow an order by the Afghan government for the schools to be transferred to the Maarif Foundation in accordance with the wishes of Ankara as per an agreement between the two countries.

Ankara accuses the Gülen movement, led by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, for carrying out a failed military coup in July 2016 in

which more than 200 people were killed.

Gülen denies the charges. Turkey is calling on countries around the world to close down schools, which existed in more than 100 countries prior to the failed putsch, linked to Gülen or hand them over to Turkish state control.

The Maarif Foundation was established in 2016 to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to Gülen.